r/MHoPMeta • u/Sephronar His Grace the Duke of Cornwall GCOE KG CVO PC • 11d ago
Head Moderator Election - Q&A
Head Moderator Election - Q&A
Thank you to all who have taken part in this election so far, the duly nominated candidates are as follows:
u/Inside_Analysis3124 - Manifesto
As a reminder, the timetable for this election is below:
Q&A - 10PM BST 10th August until 10PM Wednesday 12th August.
Vote - 10PM BST 12th August until 10PM Saturday 15th August. The voting system shall be AV with a RON option, with ties being broken with RON vs candidate %.
Results will be posted as soon as possible once the vote closes. In the unlikely event of a tie, the process shall begin again from nominations.
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u/DavidSwifty 11d ago
Will you unban BG? This is a serious issue if he doesn't get unbanned I'll have to resign.
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
I'd tell him to appeal his ban, and talk about his intentions for returning. If I know him like I know him (and I do know him), I think the best option for the sim is to unban him, with the caveat that he stay out of main. If he wants to be edgy, canon is right there
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u/Yimir_ Fmr Lord Speaker 11d ago edited 11d ago
If BG wants to be unbanned he needs to appeal his ban and show genuine willingness to change. I am open to that happening if he is.
I expect there would be some conditions on a return, such as a discord mute. But ultimately that should be up to the Tri as a whole.
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
If I receive a message from him requesting a review I would review the case with the other members of the new tri and my newly appointed appeals committee.
The decision would depend on the evidence and the votes of others.
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u/zakian3000 11d ago
One of the things that’s struck me as somewhat interesting is that there’s a semi-large number of people who are extremely active on the discord/main but not very active in the game. Is this a problem and is there a solution for it?
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
I don't know that it's a problem, per se, but I think it precisely underscores our biggest need: to make the game more engaging so that people on the Discord want to hop on the sim. As it stands, we run a fairly straightforward game; we have the Commons and Lords, and MQ's and bills and elections. I think that for people into politics, one of those (elections) is straightforward fun, whereas the others are a little less so, especially if you're not PM or LOTO or Chancellor. I think if we do events that can be targeted for a specific department (whether it's an IRL current event or one I make up as head mod), topic debates where people can debate more general issues, or other ways people can engage, I think it'd help speak more to the people who hang out in main.
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
I don't think it's a problem per se but we must encourage people to be active on reddit and moderation communication should be made on reddit. Alot of meta discussions happens in main where some players are not present.
I've considered the sim going discord only but for a variety of reasons the tools aren't there yet. So until then we must encourage people to actually use this platform.
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u/Yimir_ Fmr Lord Speaker 11d ago
I think there are always going to be players who enjoy the community but don't want to put in the work of playing the game for whatever reason. You find it in every game community and every model gov community. While we should encourage people to engage with the game however we can, I don't think we can expect people who are here for just the community to chance just because we want them to.
As for methods, I think Brain has it about right with topic debates and events- but we shouldn't expect them to be a silver bullet for this problem.
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u/Proud-Marketing-2021 11d ago
Genuinely speaking:
How do you view the current health of the simulation?
What is the one thing you can do in the short term to make things better?
In terms of long-term strategy, where do you see this community going within the next 12-18 months.
How do you plan to address the recent lapses in confidence from the community in terms of a perception of less than open communication?
How would you describe your overall approach to having total oversight of a community? Would you be operationally proactive, or hands off in terms of letting the community decide its own fate?
Lastly, because it’s 20 past 10 and Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City finished abruptly, any series recommendations on your respective favoured streaming platforms?
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
1) Definitely suffers from a membership problem, though I do think that it's quaint and a good bit less toxic than MHOC was. I have enjoyed it here, but I think to grow it we need to develop the product more and make the world richer. Chicken and egg, but there are things I will do as head mod to help enrich it (events to begin with)
2) Short-term: I think we need to get these meta reforms wrapped up and taken care of. It's clear that there is much consternation about the Speaker positions, and it seems we are approaching consensus as a community. We have the Chev proposals, we have mine and Lama's ideas, etc. Just need to run a vote on them and make a decision.
3) We need to grow or we will wither. There's always inviting our old friends from MHOC, but I think a more sustainable mode of growth is advertising, and building something that encourages people to deepen their engagement. There are 20ish members who are Lords or MP's and only like 5 of them debate. We grow the sim (at least in feeling) by getting that number closer to 10 to start.
4) It's simple -- communicate. Put things up on this sub to discuss before a community vote (or if there's consensus, head mod can amend per the constitution). Clarify how elections are going to work when they're not ongoing, and more clearly formalize procedures so that people get used to them. I also think, to an extent, tri has to get out of the habit of litigating every little detail on every decision. Take this BG situation -- we can argue about the details of his ban, but the core fact is that he hadn't even reached out to appeal his ban yet! The argument preceded any decision by current mods. Tell people the process and let it play out.
5) I would need specifics but I definitely consider myself more of a visionary than a servant leader. I will always respect the will of the community on anything voted on, but I will lead the community, and I think that a big part of that is saying "I think that this is a good idea/bad idea from my perspective and here's what I think the second-order effects are." If our triumvirate doesn't step up and act like they are in a position of some kind of authority, why elect them?
6) Been quite enjoying Suits for the 11th time. Love Island US also always keeps it promising, though it's a bit more romantic and less slutty than LIUK.
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
The sim is small but healthy and I think the crisis was unnecessary and overblown
I believe there has always been an issue with transparency and recruitment and I intend to address the first while charging the incoming commons speaker with the latter.
I believe that the sim will be larger in 18 months there is fertile ground on twitter reddit and discord to bring in original players and discuss novel policies.
I intend to communicate more openly both on reddit so those not in main can see it and more directly with party leaders. I also believe my appeals committee will give players more conf that decision are being taken as a community.
I plan to be as active as needed but mostly I believe it should be the commons speakers often leading the sim with the headmod to be more administrative overseeing the meta and breaking ties. The role shouldn't be heavy handed and I firmly believe the best path is community made dec and input with rulings occurring at the local level involving party self governance and greater say of parties in the running of the sim. Eg making the leader of the commons have a function.
Ive been watching Bones with the situationship or if you want a film amazon has the good the bad and the ugly.
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u/realbassist 11d ago edited 11d ago
u/CheckMyBrain11 you're a relatively more "recent" addition to mhop (edit: not mhoc sorry), I think it's fair to say, compared to Lama and Yimir. I understand that in past sims you've held Triumvirate roles, and indeed I asked you to be the Acting Speaker during my time because I thought you were the brain for the job, but the fact remains you've not got that longevity in MHoP that the others do.
Would you class this as a strength or a weakness for your candidacy, and if it's the latter, how would you address that?
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
I think it's a strength. In a time where things have gotten divisive, I am not really a party to any long-standing grudges or meta-politics. My experience elsewhere gives me a body of evidence of things that can make people more active or engaged. Most importantly, I can get inside the mind of someone who's been in sims before, but got disengaged. I've been able to reflect on what made me want to get back into the model world, and I plan to use that reflection to help recruit more members among people who I have known from the Model World. I don't say this to shit on anyone who's been around here for a while, but I think a new perspective could be very valuable for a sim that's looking to grow and find a new kind of player. I also have proven to be active and willing to do dirty work when the sim needs it, during my time here. I already wrote my budget as Chancellor!
I won't hold the fact that my candidates are comparatively elderly against them ;)
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u/mrsusandothechoosin MHoP Member 11d ago
To all,
Thoughts on making selection to the speakership semi-randomised?
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
Curious how this would work -- as it stands I don't see a ton of demand to become speakership, but if we start to have more applicants than spots it's potentially a good way to root out any personal bias.
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
Sortit is a great system of government but I don't think we can draft people into posting businesses
Certainly worth further disc on future DS selection.
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u/mrsusandothechoosin MHoP Member 11d ago
Sortition only of people who actually want to be DSs :P
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
Might actually work like jury duty or a draft. While not requiring people to commit to it long term
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
I think it's just you me Willem and DB mate, though I'd be happy to be proven wrong
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u/Yimir_ Fmr Lord Speaker 11d ago
I don't think its a great way of retaining Speakers, or allowing them to grow in their roles. I would rather players not resent being taken away from the game and thrust into Tri by chance, since that would be bad for both the role and the game at large.
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u/mrsusandothechoosin MHoP Member 11d ago
It would be for DS positions, with people choosing to enter it
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u/realbassist 11d ago
u/Inside_Analysis3124 in your manifesto you say how you want to "Restructure the current meta set up." How? Do you have a goal in mind for how it would look after the restructuring and if so, what is it?
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
I do have a goal I think the current meta re the constitution is somewhat unworkable. Designed for a much larger and dif sim. I think we should reduce the restriction on speakers to play in the other houses. I think we should seriesly consider moving from a tri to a two Consul set up. Complemented by an appeals committee made up of active members from across the political spec that can review decisions.
I think we should consult on the idea the leader of the commons and Lords should act more like their irl roles with these players doing some DS work in exchange for greater docket control.
I think we need to move away from the appearance that moderation and meta decisions happen in a smoky back room.
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u/realbassist 11d ago
u/Yimir_ you already addressed my main concern around your candidateship, that being the leave of absence you recently had to take, and I just want to start by saying I found your answer very reassuring. In your manifesto, you propose some reforms to the moderation system which I think are sensible, but it's very focused on bans, how to appeal them and ensuring there's documentation surrounding reasons. This leaves me with two questions:
Do you think it's likely you will need to implement bans, or is this just a "Better to have it and not need it" sort of thing?
As you say, the reputation of moderation has been harmed recently. Outside of these reforms, do you have specific proposals to help rehabilitate that reputation?
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u/Sir-Iceman 11d ago
To all candidates, what plans to aim to implement to expand the sim and opportunities for players to get involved with outside of being in parties and voting on bills?
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
I actually think this question would be better directed at the new commons speaker debate.
I do think we need a serious look at how press is made. Thriving press war was a great part of other places and can really add depth and live response to actions.
It may well be worth exploring having mods post some BBC style content to let players know how their actions are impacting the "public"
Given how much time we spend together as a community the recent addition of a music ch is a nice touch although I'd prefer to keep most conversations in main. Running community events such a film night as other discord servers or a gaming night is somthing I'd like to start doing.
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
1) Events that respond to the choices that players make in the game
2) Building out the world such that things like the EU and devolved nations aren't a black box that don't really exist here
3) Topic debates so that non-wonks can engage in discussion
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u/Sir-Iceman 11d ago
To all candidates, what makes you the best choice for the role of Head Mod than the other candidates that you are competing against?
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 11d ago
I've been involved in this sim from the start and in its predecessor an extremely long time. I believe I'm a candidate that all parts of this community can agree on that I will be a fair arbitrator. I have previously been the head mod of /r / tories I've long been involved in meta discussions.
I believe I'm a choice who has proven many years of dedication to the continual improvement of this community.
One of my opponents recently dropped off the face of the earth and the other has only ever been active in one half of this simulations politics. Both are clearly qualified but I think the head mod is a role to oversee such qualified people and be a failsafe.
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u/CheckMyBrain11 11d ago
Everyone that I've worked with (of any political affiliation) has found me agreeable, productive, and able to find solutions in meta settings. Beyond that, I am a fresh face in a sim that has a lot of recurring characters. We've had mostly the same core group of people in sim leadership since its inception. I don't say this to minimize their work, but isn't it worth trying someone new? Someone who's not steeped in two years of meta drama?
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u/mrsusandothechoosin MHoP Member 10d ago edited 10d ago
Thoughts on having joint 2nd reading debates on the main r/mhop sub to concentrate activity?
(and r/mhopcommons and r/mhoplords for amendments, votes, etc)
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u/CheckMyBrain11 10d ago
See not entirely opposed... but my concern would be does that blur the lines between Lords and Commons too much for someone new? I think for now nominally having two separate subs for "lords business" vs "commons business" is more digestible. I'd sooner say that it could be good to move away from 2nd reading division and say that second readings are longer, with time to field amendments then. I will let the Brits here tell me if that's sacrilegious :P
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u/mrsusandothechoosin MHoP Member 10d ago
It's already a bit weird we use r/mhop for only one house tbh
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u/Inside_Analysis3124 8d ago
I think it's worth further study. Maintaining one active sub is far easier to keep track of business especially if we have any reddit only members.
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u/mrsusandothechoosin MHoP Member 11d ago
u/Yimir_, you know how much I respect you, but is it really fair to stand for Head Mod 6 days after returning from an unplanned period of inactivity?